Pro Choice Turned Pro Life

From Fox News--I thought it was a great story worth a read...

Abby Johnson, 29, stands outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Bryan, Tex., alongside Shawn Carney of the Campaign for Life. Johnson quit after watching an ultrasound of an abortion.
The former director of a Planned Parenthood clinic in southeast Texas says she had a "change of heart" after watching an abortion last month — and she quit her job and joined a pro-life group in praying outside the facility.

Abby Johnson, 29, used to escort women from their cars to the clinic in the eight years she volunteered and worked for Planned Parenthood in Bryan, Texas. But she says she knew it was time to leave after she watched a fetus "crumple" as it was vacuumed out of a patient's uterus in September.

'When I was working at Planned Parenthood I was extremely pro-choice," Johnson told FoxNews.com. But after seeing the internal workings of the procedure for the first time on an ultrasound monitor, "I would say there was a definite conversion in my heart ... a spiritual conversion."

Johnson said she became disillusioned with her job after her bosses pressured her for months to increase profits by performing more and more abortions, which cost patients between $505 and $695.

"Every meeting that we had was, 'We don't have enough money, we don't have enough money — we've got to keep these abortions coming,'" Johnson told FoxNews.com. "It's a very lucrative business and that's why they want to increase numbers."

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood told FoxNews.com that it offers a range of services at it 850 health centers nationwide, providing pregnancy tests, vaccinations and women's health services, "including wellness exams, breast and cervical cancer screenings, contraception, and STD testing and treatment."

"Planned Parenthood's focus is on prevention," wrote Diane Quest, the group's National Media Director. "Nationwide, more than 90% of the health care Planned Parenthood affiliates provide is preventive in nature," explaining that a "core component the organization's mission is to help women plan healthy pregnancies and prevent unintended pregnancies."

But Johnson said her bosses told her to change her "priorities" and focus on abortions, which she said made money for the office at a time when the recession has left them hurting.

"For them there's not a lot of money in education," she said. "There's as not as much money in family planning as there is abortion."

Without a doctor in residence, she said, her clinic offered abortions only two days a month, but the doctor could perform 30 to 40 procedures on each day he was there. Johnson estimated that each abortion could net the branch about $350, adding up to more than $10,000 a month.

"The majority of the money was going to the facility," she said.

Johnson said she never got any orders to increase profits in e-mails or letters, and had no way to prove her allegations about practices at the Bryan branch. She told FoxNews.com that pressure came in personal interactions with her regional manager from the larger Houston office.

But she said she got involved with the clinic "to help women and ... [do] the right thing," and the idea of raking in cash seemed to go against what she felt was the mission of the 93-year-old organization.

"Ideally my goal as the facility's director is that your abortion numbers don't increase," because "you're providing so much family planning and so much education that there is not a demand for abortion services.

"But that was not their goal," she said.

A spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood refused to answer questions about Johnson's accusations, but released a statement noting that a district court had issued a temporary restraining order against the former branch director and against the Coalition for Life, an anti-abortion group with which Johnson is now affiliated.

"We regret being forced to turn to the courts to protect the safety and confidentiality of our clients and staff, however, in this instance it is absolutely necessary," said spokeswoman Rochelle Tafolla.

It is unclear what made Planned Parenthood seek the restraining order. Johnson said she did not intend to release any sensitive information about her former patients at the clinic.

A hearing is set for Nov. 10 to determine whether a judge will order an injunction against Johnson and the Coalition for Life, which has led protests outside the clinic and joined her in a prayer vigil there last month.

Johnson hasn't found a job since she quit on Oct. 6, but she said she's enjoying the time off to be with her 3-year-old daughter.

"It's been great just to spend some time at home and get a break," she said.

More Timberlake, More Musical Fun, More Videos of the Decade

By the way, I'm 2 people shy of the 100 Mark on the Clouds in My Coffee Facebook Group. Have you signed up?

By the way (part 2), if you are actually reading this on Facebook, you'll want to go to the original Clouds in My Coffee website, because videos don't show up on Facebook.

Alrighty... we're doing the Clouds Countdown on my favorite videos of the decade, and just a recap, #20 was "Fallin' For You" by Colbie Caillat, #19 was a tie between "Without You" by Eminem & "Stand Up" by Ludacris, #18 was "What Goes Around ... / ... Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake, #17 is "The Story" by Brandi Carlile and #16 was "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado. See #20 here, and see #19 to #16 by clicking here.

At #15, its what I consider Part I (with "What Goes Around... /... Comes Around" being Part 2) of the best video "Forget You!" combo of all time. To Britney, Justin says, "Hey. Check it. You're absolutely nuts. People think you are a freak show. Me? I'm not only loaded, chicks dig me like crazy--heck, K-Dub loves me more than she loves her sister--and even though I was in a boy band, I'm still FRIGGIN COOL!!!"

Probably not Emmy Turnbow Safe, here's "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake.



Here's a video that perhaps I like just as much for the song as I do the video--the song, after all, was #24th in the 100 Coolest Things of 2005... I like the video because its aggressive, its passionate and Kelly Clarkson simply throws down in a wedding dress.

My 14th favorite video of the decade is "Behind These Hazel Eyes" by Kelly Clarkson--once again, unavailable to post here, so click here for the YouTube link to the video.

Here's one I discovered sometime last year, from a song I discovered sometime last year. I've grown to appreciate Jason Mraz over the last couple of years both as a singer and a songwriter--for anyone who can actually sing successfully the second verse to "The Remedy", I commend you.

My vote for my 13th favorite video of the decade is "You and I Both" by Jason Mraz. Its a fun, light song and a silly video with bank tellers and managers dancing around, and somehow, Mraz getting arrested at the end, yet its still a hoot. Enjoy.



And finally, for this post, here's my 12th favorite video of the decade, from one of my favorite hip-hop songs of all time...



This one actually might be Emmy Turnbow Safe, with a few exceptions. Anyway, I love the song, and I love the story the video tells, Kelly Rowland is by far and away the hottest of the Destiny's Children and the whole thing is done great.

From Timberlake to Gay Backup Dancers--More Favorite Music Videos

Here's another few vidoes in my effort to give you my favorite 20 videos of the decade... you can find #20, "Fallin' For You" by Colbie Caillat, in this post from a few days ago...

There is a tie for the 19th favorite video of the decade... actually, it's two. It truly speaks to, as a Christ Follower, what we should enjoy and what we should be bothered by. Truly, it all boils down to knowing what I believe, knowing why I believe it, and knowing my weak points. Rap videos are not my weak points, and after seeing them, I'm typically not tempted to go find me a 'ho and smack her up.

That being said, I'm aware that this site is linked on several other websites, including the webpage of my church, Valleydale Church (an sbc fellowship). You came here for music and music videos, not for a spiritual lesson (though really, shouldn't our day to day life be one spiritual lesson?)... so with that, I'm only going to tell you that tied for #19 are Ludacris' "Stand Up" and Eminem's "Without Me", two hilarious videos that really have nothing to do with the usually debauchery that you'd find in such artist's videos and lyrics. The former is just about a big party, the latter is... well, kind of narcassistic. But both are excellent, very well done, creative and funny. And if you want to see them, you can go to YouTube. I'm not going to give you the resources to put such filth in front of your faces. Sinner.

Moving on.

At number 18 for the decade, its Part Two of one of the biggest "Screw You!" moves I've ever seen. This is for K-Dub (not directly to K-Dub, but for K-Dub)

Actually, truth be told, in "What Goes Around... / ...Comes Around", Justin Timberlake never expressly said this was directed at Britney, but its always been rumored as being such. I was never a huge fan of this song until I saw the video, which put a whole different perspective on the song.



Yes, that is Scarlett Johansson in the video... and she's actually a singer in her own right. She just released an album of duets with Pete Yorn, and I'm loving one of their latest--you'll hear me talk about it on the year-ending 100 Coolest Things of 2009 coming in January.

This is just the short version... there is actually a 10 minute mini-movie version you can see it by clicking here but I couldn't find the link to post it on Clouds... you can see it by clicking on this link (warning--though not bad, I don't know that I would deem it Emmy Turnbow safe).

At #17, here's one from Brandi Carlile. The song itself actually was actually the 32nd Coolest Thing of 2007, but there's a video that goes with it that I just love. Here's what I said about her then:

Brandi Carlisle, is a up and coming singer songwriter who has the benefit of getting a song on "Grey's Anatomy", which is pretty close to instant success. Actually, she's managed to get three or four songs on the show, but this one is the one I really like, as it was released in video form, containing clips of the show set to the music.



For someone who loves the show, it is great when a video just gets it. Nothing flashy about it, I just really like the way its done. And I've said this before--when I die, I want this song and "What a Wonderful World/Over the Rainbow" by the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole played, showing video clips from my entire life. Don't have any video clips? Better get some. I'm in my mid-30s by now, you are missing tons of stuff.

And finally, for today, here's #16, which unfortunately I can't show you--something about copyrighted property, and trademarks and me not owning the rights to show it and all that crap...

It's "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado, and there a few things I love about this video... first, at least for me, its one of the few times I think Nelly Furtado actually comes across as attractive. Never been a huge fan, not really sure I am now, but this song entrances me. Its just... well, its just cool.
Secondly, Timbaland is awesome. I don't know who's idea it was to do close ups of Timbaland saying "Hey" over and over, but it works. Somehow, someway, the only job this guy has is to make goofy faces, whisper in the background "you don't mean nothing at all", scat a little bit and say "Hey" a thousand times. Fantastic. He's the best part of the video.



Finally, see those guys in the background that do that shoulder swivel move, using their legs? It happens around 2:43 in... its like Patrick Swayze doing that side-to-side aisle dance move at the end of "Dirty Dancing", and it looks so incredibly easy... but its impossible to do. Or impossible to do and still look as cool as the ones who are doing it. Perhaps it helps that they look as gay as a four dollar bill--the background dancers, not Patrick Swayze.

Dismantling America

Every now and again I come across something that is just awesome. Its written like I wish I could write, sharing ideas and ideology in a way that I wish I could get across. Just a note--the video is my own addition. As featured on TownHall.com:

Just one year ago, would you have believed that an unelected government official, not even a Cabinet member confirmed by the Senate but simply one of the many "czars" appointed by the President, could arbitrarily cut the pay of executives in private businesses by 50 percent or 90 percent?

Did you think that another "czar" would be talking about restricting talk radio? That there would be plans afloat to subsidize newspapers-- that is, to create a situation where some newspapers' survival would depend on the government liking what they publish?

Did you imagine that anyone would even be talking about having a panel of so-called "experts" deciding who could and could not get life-saving medical treatments?

Scary as that is from a medical standpoint, it is also chilling from the standpoint of freedom. If you have a mother who needs a heart operation or a child with some dire medical condition, how free would you feel to speak out against an administration that has the power to make life and death decisions about your loved ones?

Does any of this sound like America?

How about a federal agency giving school children material to enlist them on the side of the president? Merely being assigned to sing his praises in class is apparently not enough.

How much of America would be left if the federal government continued on this path? He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected (my title, not his-d$) has already floated the idea of a national police force, something we have done without for more than two centuries.

We already have local police forces all across the country and military forces for national defense, as well as the FBI for federal crimes and the National Guard for local emergencies. What would be the role of a national police force created by Barack Obama, with all its leaders appointed by him? It would seem more like the brown shirts of dictators than like anything American.

How far the President will go depends of course on how much resistance he meets. But the direction in which he is trying to go tells us more than all his rhetoric or media spin.
Barack Obama has not only said that he is out to "change the United States of America," the people he has been associated with for years have expressed in words and deeds their hostility to the values, the principles and the people of this country.

Jeremiah Wright said it with words: "God damn America!"


Lest you forget, here's the man that led the church attended by He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected for six months. Wait, it was more, right? I meant a year. What? More? Okay, five years. But he didn't really know him, right? Uh... what? More? How many? TWENTY YEARS? He was our president's pastor for TWENTY YEARS? But... but... He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected didn't really know him. Right? Right.

Bill Ayers said it with bombs that he planted. Community activist goons have said it with their contempt for the rights of other people.

Among the people appointed as czars by President Obama have been people who have praised enemy dictators like Mao, who have seen the public schools as places to promote sexual practices contrary to the values of most Americans, to a captive audience of children.

Those who say that the Obama administration should have investigated those people more thoroughly before appointing them are missing the point completely. Why should we assume that Barack Obama didn't know what such people were like, when he has been associating with precisely these kinds of people for decades before he reached the White House?

Nothing is more consistent with his lifelong patterns than putting such people in government-- people who reject American values, resent Americans in general and successful Americans in particular, as well as resenting America's influence in the world.

Any miscalculation on his part would be in not thinking that others would discover what these stealth appointees were like. Had it not been for the Fox News Channel, these stealth appointees might have remained unexposed for what they are. Fox News is now high on the administration's enemies list.

Nothing so epitomizes President Obama's own contempt for American values and traditions like trying to ram two bills through Congress in his first year-- each bill more than a thousand pages long-- too fast for either of them to be read, much less discussed. That he succeeded only the first time says that some people are starting to wake up. Whether enough people will wake up in time to keep America from being dismantled, piece by piece, is another question-- and the biggest question for this generation.

Written by Thomas Sowell, former Marxist, reformed Conservative, author, economist and professor at Stanford University.

"I don't care. This is racist. You should respect our first black president. This is a bigoted piece written by some white bureaucrat who never knew a hard days work in his life!"

Oh yeah, Sowell is also more black than He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected, 100% certified.

Music and Magic

Okay, so does anyone else but me realize that in about 2 months, the end of the decade is upon us? Like, the actual end of a ten year period, that happening where not only do we change the last digit in the year, but the third as well... and no one is talking about this!

At Starbucks the other evening, my shift, Tracy, made the point that ten years ago at this time, we were all preparing for the end of the world with Y2K coming up, and everyone was stocking up on beans and rice and water and batteries... but in 2009? Nothing. Haven't heard a single "Best of the Decade" show on the radio, haven't seen a "Top ## of the Decade" show on TV. But, this is Clouds in My Coffee, and since you are all aware about how much I loves me some countdowns, I figured I would start the ball rolling.

I put a call out to a couple of friends of mine discussing the best movies of the decade, so hopefully, they'll get in on that topic. I've got a spreadsheet open right as I type with a list of my favorite songs of the decade. As far as TV goes, I'll probably pick my five or seven favorite shows... but I figured I'd start tonight with my favorite videos of the decade...

BUT FIRST...

...The NBA season has started (I just completely jumped topics, but I will return to "...of the decade" in a moment). Back in March, I discussed my sports affections (and listed my absolute failure of a March Madness Bracket) and mentioned my love for both the San Antonio Spurs and the Orlando Magic, loves that date back to high school. Don't believe me? I've got pics where I'm wearing hats for both. Just ask Wookiee. He'll tell you.

I mentioned that I thought I'd try just tossing myself into the NBA season, following it some as long as the NFL and college football was going on, then really follow it when that's all over. As of right now, both teams are 1-0, and both teams are expected to win their divisions (Orlando in the Eastern Southeast and San Antonio in the Western Southwest... though asking me who is in what division beyond that is like asking me, or anyone else for that matter, to tell you who is in the Atlantic and who in the Coastal in the ACC. It can't be done.) and from all I'm hearing, there are five teams that are expected to make serious runs at the NBA title this year...

That would be The Lakers, the Celtics, the Magic, the Spurs and the Cavaliers. The Spurs have another good season or two with Tim Duncan before he falls completely apart, and they are a team that typically has the Lakers number... the Magic acquired Vince Carter, someone who hasn't played very well in his entire career, but has been on mediocre teams for his entire career with no supporting cast. Now he's got Dwight Howard, among others, so hopefully he'll make a difference, because the Celtics, while great, have a Big-Three combined age of something like 344, and have a Big-Three combined games played of about 17,877... and the Cavs? I think Shaq is going to kill them this year. Terrible trade.

Anyway, I really don't know much about what I'm talking about and... hey... who said, "how is that different?" I heard that!... so we'll see how the season goes. I plan on even watching a few games here and there when I can find them.

Alright, back to the Decade stuff.

By the way, how many of you could have sworn that the title of this blog was about The Happiest Place in the Mall when you saw the word "magic"? See, you can never assume what we'll be talking about here on Clouds, can ya?

I have compiled my own list of the Top 20 Music Videos of the Decade. Now, let me be clear... this is a list of my own favorite videos. My. Own. Favorite. Videos. I did some Googling around, and I found that crazy White Stripes song where the entire video is done in Legos and such, and I thought the video was awesome... but the song is... well, its pretty terrible. Crappy song plus cool video doesn't make a cool video. It makes it a cool video with a crappy song. Make sense?

Conversely (I love that word. I feel so algebraic when I say it) a good song can be made better with a good video... and I found 2o songs that I liked, who's videos made the songs just that much better.

Music videos are such a lost art... my favorites of all time include "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel, "Take on Me" by a-ha and "Sabotage" by The Beastie Boys, but all were pre-2000, so they didn't make our list.

Oh, don't worry, I'm not listing 20 videos on a single blog post... I'll break it up. And for #20, its a cute little song that was actually from this year--I would almost be willing to call the video "Dorks Win", because it gives hope to dorks everywhere. The 20th favorite video of the decade is "Fallin' For You" by Colbie Caillat, from her latest album "Breakthrough".



Here's what I love about this video... its just fun. And sweet. And nice. She's pretty, he's a nerd, yet she totally digs him. Its like The Lovely Steph Leann falling for me all over again, only without the surfing and the trailer. And the ending of the video is just precious. Yep, I said precious.

#19 video of the decade to be included in an upcoming post.

Gil Grissom Will Never Be Furious Styles (and other random thoughts for your weekend)

Here are some random thoughts that have crossed my mind in the past few days... something to read for your weekend..

I walked out of Hallmark today, and towards a Mercury Sable that was parked there. I was almost to the car before I realized “Wait… not only is this not my Sable, I don’t own a Sable… and I’m parked over there…” Old habits die hard.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Why did it take TLC so long to just say, “Okay, okay, Kate and Jon and their 8 kids have given us enough money. Let’s call it.”?

Speaking of, when was the last time The Learning Channel actually gave you something worth learning? Not that I don't enjoy those repo shows, but I don't really learn how to get a car at 2am from a deadbeat buyer...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I laid in bed one night recently, and heard a beep. While I couldn’t figure out what it was, The Lovely Steph Leann informed me it’s a fire alarm. I mentioned that we didn’t have any batteries, and that I would have to go get some, and she informed me that it wasn’t our fire alarm, it must be one of the empty houses across the street.

So, from the empty house, through the closed doors, across the small street, through our walls and into my room comes the beep of a dying fire alarm. Apparently, the neighborhood group had them changed, cause I haven’t heard it lately. However, as The Lovely Steph Leann and I were returning home from dinner and getting out of the car tonight, I heard the beep. My eyes instantly locked onto a hammer sitting atop the toolbox in the corner.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Funniest video clip of the year. First saw it when Tyler, Trey, Lenning, Jon and myself were getting readyfor a day at the Happiest Place on Earth, when it came on, in its full form, as an actual commercial...

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

It freaks me out when I feel my leg twitch because I think my phone is vibrating, and when I check my pockets, I realize my phone is sitting across the room on the kitchen table.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

"Paranormal Activity" looks like a fanastic movie. I, however, will not be seeing it, as I'm already scared of the dark as it is, and want to sleep at some point.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Someone got my memo. I went into Wal-Mart tonight to pick up some milk (and ended up with milk, a pack of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, a Banquet Salisbury Steak TV dinner and Colbie Caillat’s new CD, “Breakthrough”… ah, the joys of Wal-Mart late at night). Anyway, the point is, when I go to Wal-Mart, typically its two registers open and about 12 people lined up at each one, and it’s a guarantee that one of the register lights is blinking due to a price check, or a customer issue or you name it. Tonight, though? About six registers were open, no more than two or three at each. I’m guessing some member of the Walton family reads Clouds in My Coffee.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

By the way, Colbie Caillat's new CD is excellent. She's got this great, peaceful sound, like a cute chick sitting on a stool, playing a guitar. Its what I'd expect from my friend Laura DeG or Stephanie Nipp.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

When I am driving around and spending the day with Lorelei Addison and/or Campbell Isaiah, I'm sure that I'll see something, or hear something or come across something mentioning He Who Must Not Be Re-Elected, and I'll going to casually mention that that particular something "sucks". And I'm terrified that they will look up at me and say "Sucks what, daddy?". I'm not sure I even know the answer to that question.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I'm now old enough to be classified as "my mid-30s". Even now, when I'm differentiating left and right, I still hold up both hands, index fingers, thumbs pointed in. There's the L! That must be left!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The Lovely Steph Leann and I split up the chores, though to be fair, she does most of it. Part if it is that she wants to make sure its done to her specifications and satisfaction, so she just figures she’d do it… and part of it is admittedly being a lazy bum. Laundry is my deal, though . Has been since we first started shacking up together five years ago. And I don’t have a problem doing laundry, I usually stumble when its time to fold it.

Usually I’ve got neat stacks of shirts to be folded, pants to be hung up, socks to be matched and put away, but as the actual laundry day gets farther away, until suddenly its laundry day again, there’s a tipping point of my pile of laundry where I finally say, “Yeah, I already have a bunch of dirty light clothes, and my pile of clean light clothes is kinda slim now… so I’ll just wash lights and fold them all together.” Maybe its just me.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Second funniest video clip I've seen this year... its an actual commercial, and Robert Lee is a guy I want to meet.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

When I leave The Happiest Place in the Mall, often, especially in colder weather, I will have on a different shirt or sweatshirt as I’m walking through the stage. That means that unless you are a regular guest, you won’t know I work there. Which makes it all the more strange when I unconsciously say “Hi”, “How are you?” and “Welcome to Disney!” to people as I’m walking through.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I'm watching "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" with The Lovely Steph Leann. I am not sure we've seen an episode together in the entire run of the show, we've always watched it on DVD, via Netflix.

My favorite has been Warrick Brown, played by Gary Dourdan... he's just awesome--and, he's dead. Sara Sidle, played by Jorja Fox, has left the show. Never was a huge fan of Sara, but she was a part of the team. And now, William Petersen's Gil Grissom, one of the finest characters in all of TV history, has left.

Laurence Fishburne is a fine actor. He's made many a fine movie, including playing Furious Styles in "Boyz in the Hood" and of course, Morpheus in the Matrix trilogy (which, in a short sidebar, I can honestly say I've never met anyone who has told me how much they liked the 2nd and 3rd movie over the 1st... for all the people I've talked to, its how revolutionary and amazing the first one was, and how visually impressive, yet utterly terrible story-wise "Reloaded" and "Revolutions" are). Heck, he was even Cowboy Curtis on the fun-when-you-were-little-but-it-seems-a-little-creepy-now Pee Wee's Playhouse!

Where was I?

Ah yes, CSI. Anyway, Fishburne is Ray Langston, who joins the team after Gil left. And I like Langston. But he's just not Gil. Don't know if anyone is, or can be. Its almost as if the show is a different show now... the cases are the same, Nick (George Eads), Brass (Paul Guilfoyle) and Catherine (the getting-better-with-age Marg Helgenberger) are still there, but the show just has a different feel to it. Not better, not worse, just different.

The Lovely Steph Leann and I are already invested in the show, so we'll see it to the very end, season by season on DVD, no matter what happens... though I would love to see Gil make a reappearance.



But William Petersen could never be Furious Styles.

Peace Amongst the Nemos

Wondering how would it be to breathe in deep. I guess I need to be careful when I ask for a drink (just might get what I ask for). And I know just what You'd say to me, that's why I don't ask you. What would I ask you? I'm like a bullheaded boy these days crying my toy's gone...You're shiny and new -- "Close of Autumn", Caedmon's Call from "Caedmon's Call"

Sometimes the Magic can be a little much. Well, let's rephrase that... for the guests, it should always be Magical... for those of us that provide the Magic, it can be a little much.

But today was a good day. I didn't even have to use my AK... ooh wah ooh... (hmm... unsure how many of you out there can recall that's an Ice Cube lyric, so I'll move on)

Today started out as a not-quite-as-good day. Today started out as a hectic day, in fact. I arrived later than usual, after two solid days of work. I arrived 30 minutes later than I should have and faced an already mounting sort of issues. The types of issues that, when faced singularly, are not much to worry about, but when tossed together in a big pile, can seem a bit overwhelming.

Lots to do, lots to do, starting mostly with a change over. Halloween stuff moves to the back of the store, new toys and Christmas merchandise begin to fill the front of the store. Two weeks before Halloween, we gotta get rid of the costumes...

SIDEBAR RANT... And just for the record, please, for the love, don't get mad at me when, 10 days before the actual day of Halloween, we don't have any more Peter Pan Costumes in stock. Seriously. They've been out on the floor since mid-August. You've had over 2 months to come in and purchase... yes, they didn't go on sale for a long, long time. But you know what? I'd bet you'd pay that extra $12 for the right size of the Buzz costume now, wouldn't ya? I'm sorry we don't have anymore. We had billions. You were just playing the odds that the right size would still be here late in the game, on the cheap, and you lost. Oh, where can you find them? Um, how about www.GetYourHappyTailInHereInAugustAndGetIt.com? Just sayin'....

...and the costumes are on sale, but Snow White was just released on DVD, so we have an entire selection of apparel and toys featuring the first princess, and the newest princess, Tiana, is coming out on December 11th, via The Princess & the Frog, which is supposed to be feeee-nominal, so we have a wall of her, and don't forget Tinkerbell!

And I need to fill the Cars wall because we've sold through so many Maters already and, wait, there's the phone, yes ma'am we do have Minnie Costumes in red and pink and what size? Okay, I'll check on that for you, no I'm sorry we don't have any 4T, they only come to 2T in pink, but we do have a 2/3 in the red and sure we can hold it for you, and let me look on my sheet, and I've got to re-ticket some of these costumes with the white ticket gun, it should be in the closet and its not in the closet, this is bad and yes sir we are hiring, here is an application for you (thinking the oily truckers cap plus the gruff, nonchalant way you asked for an application to add to the 30 you have in your left hand might just ensure that not only will you not get a job with us, you probably won't get an interview) and just fill it out and come back later and oh, the phone rings again, no ma'am, Spongebob is not Disney, no ma'am, I'm not sure where to find it in the mall, but Toys R Us is across Highway 31, and that white ticket should be in the closet, its always in the closet, and welcome to Disney yes ma'am, we do have Jasmine costumes, and yes, they are on sale but don't have prices posted yet because all of our costumes are on sale but not all are ringing up correctly so you will have to check back and yes sir, we do sell tickets, okay a 6 Day Base Ticket (thinking who would want a Base ticket? for 3 days maybe, but I couldn't do 6 without a park hopper) and that will be $266.47 and oh no, the ticket activation system is not working properly, ma'am I'm so sorry you'll have to come back later and where the heck did that white ticket gun go, this is bizarre and somewhat frustrating and that Rosetta costume that you picked up from the rack with the 9 other Rosetta costumes is actually $29.99 right now, just like it says on the sign directly above the 9 Rosetta costumes and yes I know we have other costumes for $19.99 but if you'll look ma'am you'll see that those costumes are not only clearly marked but they aren't even near the also clearly-marked-with-a-different-price Rosetta costumes so no they aren't the same price and its okay that you don't want it, but did you really have to just stick on the $19.99 rack and walk away when the $29.99 rack that you got it off of was about four more steps away and no ma'am we don't have any more Captain Hook costumes besides what is right there on the wall in the 2/3 size and sure, I'll check on some Nemo Costumes in the back and...

(breathe)

I slowly walked backstage. Head spinning, wondering how I was going to get it even done. Too much stuff to do, inhibited by the fact I'm an assistant and I'm allowed 40 hours per week and that's all. I pull out the small step ladder and place it directly under Pooh and Nemo. They are toddler costumes, hanging from a chain that hangs down from the ceiling and someone wants a 12 Mos size.

I unfold the ladder and step to the top. I reach, stretch, pull a little, plant my foot on a nearby shelf making sure I don't fall, and get the 12 month size I need. And then I stop for a few seconds.

"God... we don't spend nearly enough time together. Really. I mean, not that we spend a day or two here, or an hour or two together and I need more, I mean, we really don't spend enough time together. This is a silly request... just help me today. I've got too much to do. In the grand scheme of things, it will all get done, I'm sure, but help me figure this out. That's all."

I stood for another few seconds, took another breath, and as I stepped down the ladder onto the tile, it was... well, it was a peace that surpassed all understanding. I certainly don't understand it. It was if a big rock with the label "TUESDAY" on it was resting on my back, and somehow, a gracious, powerful and somewhat loving Hand just flicked it off.

Things started to click. I would say "somehow" but I know the "how". The costumes started ringing up correctly. The ticket activation system kicked in, and when she called back, I took care of her ticket and got it to her. We didn't get a ton of shipment in today, which means I could concentrate on other things. I managed a couple of fixtures before I left. I scheduled a couple of interviews for the end of the week--sadly, Trucker Hat Guy didn't make the cut.

And that's the thing, ain't it? Its so simple, its just as easy as a "Hey God... little help here", ain't it? Doesn't mean it will all be perfect... heck, when I left, I still had a ton of stuff to do (and have to do tomorrow) and people were still irritated at me when I told them that we don't have any more Peter Pan bow & arrow sets...

"Well, can you order them online?"
"I am sure you can find them online, if they are available, ma'am, but we don't have the capabilities to order them from our store. You'll have to go on yourself."

"Well, can you get it shipped here, and let me pick it up here?"
"No ma'am, you'll have to have it shipped to your home, we cannot get it here for you to pick up."

"Well, I can't believe you don't have any more boys accessories."

"Actually, ma'am, we do have more in the back, but we are holding onto them because you're obnoxious and we won't sell them to you..."

...but all in all, the outlook was different. Just that quick nudge to Him, not even a full out prayer, just an acknowledgement of dependence and need and want was enough to have a sweeping feeling of contentment and grace and... yep, peace. A peace that truly surpasses all understanding, so sez Philippians 4:7, so we live out. I don't understand it, never will.

Reminds me of my favorite Caedmon's Call song, "Close of Autumn", one of those "this song changed my life" kind of songs, when it says: When I'm cold and alone, all I want is my freedom, sudden gust of gravity. I stop wailing and kicking just to let this water cover me, cover me, only if I rest my arms, rest my mind, You'll overcome me, swell up around me. With my fighting so vain, my vanity so fought, I'm rolling over. And in just the same way, the streams become swollen, swollen with cold up over the ground. When my heart draws close to the close of Autumn where your love (your love) abounds.

I was going to finish up the trip review to the Happiest Place on Earth, but I ended up having a day like today, and thought I'd share the Happiest Place in the Mall.

And my greatest fear... was that you'd leave me here... a long time back my feet could touch the bottom...

Now where is that stupid white-ticket gun?